Search

Main Navigation

Main Content

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The capital murder trial of Bud Pritchett enters its closing arguments phase later this morning.
The defendant himself took the stand yesterday-- denying that he confessed to the crime.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And as its air campaign intentifies, NATO is reportedly targeting top government buildings in Yugoslavia's capital.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[Kosovo]

A top British official says NATO is expanding the air campaign to include more targets in Yugoslavia.
Sources say those targets could include top government buildings in Belgrade.
Bobbi Harley joins us now with the latest.
[Live=Bobbi Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Bobbi Harley/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Washington DC;]
( ad lib)
[****ROLLED FROM NEWSPATH****]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=MOre planes]
[SUPER=03-Aviano, Italy;]
[SUPER=01-Kenneth Bacon/Pentagon Spokesman;]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=]
((((LOCATOR: AVIANO, ITALY))
((NAT SOT))

((track))
MORE PLANES ARE TAKING OFF FROM AVIANO, ITALY TODAY.. AS NATO
REPORTEDLY GETS READY TO EXPAND ITS AIRSTRIKES.
TARGETS MIGHT INCLUDE SITES RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF BELGRADE.
THE MOVE COMES AFTER PENTAGON OFFICIALS ADMITTED TO HAVING ONLY
LIMITED SUCCESS WITH THE BOMBINGS SO FAR:
((SOT: KENNETH BACON/PENTAGON SPOKESMAN))
"There has not been a knockout punch. We knew that a knockout punch
would not come quickly."
((track))
NOW U-S OFFICIALS ARE COVERING THEIR BASES AT HOME.
EARLY THIS MORNING IN WASHINGTON, THEY TOOK OVER THE YUGOSLAV EMBASSY.
THIS, AS NEW HOPES FOR PEACE QUICKLY VANISHED YESTERDAY--
AFTER RUSSIA'S PRIME MINISTER FAILED TO BROKER A DEAL.
PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SAID HE WOULD RESUME TALKS ONLY IF NATO HALTED
AIR STRIKES.
PRESIDENT CLINTON BALKED AT THE IDEA--
AND HE URGED NATO TO FORGE AHEAD WITH THE MISSION:
((SOT: PRESIDENT CLINTON AT LAST NIGHT'S DINNER))
"We must not allow--if we have the ability to stop it--ethnic cleansing
or genocide any where we can stop it--particularly at the edge of
Europe."
((track))
MEANWHILE, AID IS ON THE WAY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC
ALBANIANS FLEEING A BLOOD-THIRSTY SERBIAN ARMY.
GOVERNMENTS AND RELIEF AGENCIES ARE RESPONDING TO THESE
HEART-WRENCHING IMAGES OF TIRED.. HUNGRY.. SCARED REFUGEES... TRYING TO
CROSS THE BORDER INTO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
FOOD, MEDICINE, AND OTHER SUPPLIES ARE HEADED FOR ALBANIA.. WHERE
MOST OF THE REFUGEES HAVE FLED.
THE U-S HAS ALSO DONATED EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN AID.
((STANDUP))
Talks about Albania's offer to help funnel arms to the Kosovo
liberation army.))
[Live=Bobbi Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-Washington DC;]
( ad lib)

[Pritchett]

Closing arguments are expected later this morning in the captial murder trial of Bud Pritchett.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]

Pritchett took the stand yesterday in his own defense.
He denied making a confession to state police.
He says the only reason he indicated he was involved was because he felt pressured after hours of questioning.
The defense also tried to bolster its case by presenting character witnesses who testified Pritchett has a reputation in the community as trustworthy despite two previous felony convictions.
(------------)

[E-UVA-Stalker]

Police in Charlottesville say they have nabbed the man responsible for several sorority house break-ins at UVA.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The University had warned female students to be on the lookout for Garnett Lloyd.
He was arrested for a series of break-ins at sororities last year.
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville]

Then police say he struck again this month at the Delta (Zay-ta) Zeta house.
Lloyd claims he has a compulsion that makes him unable to suppress sexual urges.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's common sense]
((LT. CHIP HARDING/CHARLOTTESVILLE POLICE: IT'S COMMON SENSE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CONCERNS THE PERSON MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF DOING MORE THAN STEALING UNDERWEAR OR TOUCHING A FEMALE.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Chip Harding/Charlottesville Police Department;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=touching a female.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Lloyd was out on bail when police say he broke into the Delta Zeta house.

[Big-Game]

No one struck it rich yet in the multi- state Big Game lottery.
Since none of the tickets sold for last night's 103- million dollar drawing matched all five lotto numbers and the Big Money Ball number, the jackpot now stands at 140- million.
The next drawing will be Friday.

[Powell]

Retired General Colin Powell supports the NATO assault in the Balkans.
The former chairman of the Joint Chief's of staff spoke in Blacksburg last night.
In a press conference before the address, he called the Serbian president a villian, and said the bombing must continue.
Eric Earnhart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Powell approaches]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Gen. Colin Powell/Fmr. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair; :17]
[SUPER=01-Bob Denton/Center For Leader Development; :45]
[SUPER=01-Amber Waller/Pulaski Co. Senior; 1:05]
[SUPER=@eric1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUTQ=EE, News-7.]
((Powell approaches the subject cautiously... not wanting, he says to speak from the comfort of retirement, criticizing those on the hot seat.
On the subject of ground troops, he says they could be a necessitity, if Serbian President Milosevic takes too long to act.
[SOT 00:57:41]
[IN Q=I don't sense that political]
((GEN. COLIN POWELL/FMR. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIR; I DON'T SENSE THAT POLITICAL AUTHORITIES HAVE REACHED THAT POINT YET, AND IT THINK IT'S A POINT WE SHOULD TRY TO AVOID AND SEE IF AIR POWER CAN CONTINUE TO WORK, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU WISH TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE, YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THAT. ))
[RUNS 17]
[OUT Q=have to do that]

Powell is one of the most popular and most expensive speakers Tech has ever had... at better than 70 thousand dollars... and it took two years to get him... but according to student polls, he the person they most want to hear.
[SOT 01:11:36]
[IN Q=he is the student's ]
(( BOB DENTON/CENTER FOR LEADER DEVLEOPMENT ; HE IS THE STUDENT'S NUMBER ONE CHOICE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE RESERVED SO MUCH AND THE MAJORITY OF THE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TONIGHT.
SO HE'S WORTH IT?
OH, I'D DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=in a heartbeat]

Because, they say, finding someone students will really LISTEN to is priceless.
Three high school seniors drove here from Pulaski County and paid ten dollars apiece to hear Powell's message.
[SOT 01:167:27]
[IN Q=I'm looking for someone]
(( AMBER WALLER/PULASKI CO. SENIOR; I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE ME GUIDANCE SO THAT I CAN ACT BETTER POLITICALLY AND BE INVOLVED, AND THIS HOPEFULLY WILL BE THE SPEECH THAT GIVES ME THE IDEAS THAT I NEED. ))
[RUNS 12]
[OUT Q=that I need]

Powell's guidance goes something like this.
[SOT 01:09:42]
[IN Q=even as you're on your]
((GEN. COLIN POWELL/FMR. JOINT CHIEFS FO STAFF CHAIR; EVEN AS YOU'RE ON YOUR TRACK TO BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE CORPERATION AND TO MAKE ALL KINDS OF MONEY, MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALSO GIVING SOMETHING BACK TO THE SOCIETY THAT GAVE YOU SUCH OPPORTUNITY. ))
[RUNS 13]
[OUT Q=gave you such opportuinty]

[newsroom standup]
Video cameras were NOT allowed at Powell's actual speech, but he continued to encourage students to help those who are less fortunate then they are. He also said last night he is NOT running for president in 2000.
Eric Earnhart, News 7))

[E-Synchrony]

An engineering firm near Bent Mountain has been named one of the fastest-growing companies in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Synchrony opened six years ago.
Since then, the maker of high-tech motors and magnetic bearings has watched its revenues grow by 42-percent.
It's growing so fast, Synchrony will soon need a bigger building.
But the president says he'll keep the company in Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:41:31]
[IN Q=roanoke is]
((VICTOR IANNELLO/SYNCHRONY PRESIDENT: ROANOKE IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. WHEN I STARTED SYNCHRONY I HAD THE CHOICE OF LIVING IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AND I CHOSE TO STAY IN ROANOKE. I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE THAT EXISTS IN THE VALLEY.))
[SUPER=01-Victor Iannello/Synchrony President;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=THE VALLEY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Synchrony has landed lucrative contracts with the U-S Air Force and NASA.
It is the only business in the Roanoke and New River Valleys on the Virginia Chamber of Commerce "Fantastic 50" list.

That's the list of the 50- fastest growing companies in the state.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

In medical news, some bottled water may not be worth the price.
Mika Brzezinski has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mika Brzezinski/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
(( MANY OF THOSE FANCY BOTTLED WATERS YOU BUY MAY BE NO DIFFERENT FROM
THE STUFF THAT COMES OUT YOUR FAUCET.
VT=VO
((vo))
A STUDY BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL FOUND THAT SOME
BRANDS OF DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED BOTTLED WATER.. EXCEEDED HEALTH
GUIDELINES FOR BACTERIA.
THE RESEARCH ALSO SHOWED THAT UP TO 40-PERCENT OF THE BOTTLED WATER
SOLD... IS ACTUALLY WATER TAKEN FROM THE TAP.
BOTTLERS SAY THE REPORT IS JUST AN ATTEMPT TO SCARE PEOPLE.//
VT=VO
((vo))
THE STRONG ECONOMY IS GIVING MEDICARE A MUCH-NEEDED SHOT IN THE ARM.
IT HAD BEEN PREDICTED THE MEDICARE PROGRAM WOULD GO BANKRUPT IN THE
YEAR 2008...
BUT A NEW REPORT SAYS THAT DATE HAS NOW BEEN PUSHED BACK TO THE YEAR
2015.
OFFICIALS SAY MORE MONEY IS BEING POURED INTO THE SYSTEM.. BECAUSE
MORE AMERICANS ARE WORKING.//
ONCAM
((on cam))
AND THERE MAY SOON BE A VACCINE FOR PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS.
IT MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM PEANUT
ALLERGIES.. THAN ANY OTHER FOOD-RELATED ALLERGY.
NOW RESEARCHERS AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SAY THEY'VE CREATED A
VACCINE USING D-N-A FROM PEANUTS.
THE SERUM DELAYED ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN MICE--
BUT IT STILL HASN'T BEEN TESTED ON PEOPLE.//
AND THAT IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.
I'M MIKA BRZEZINSKI, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
(ad lib to weather)

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Capital murder suspect Bud Pritchett took the stand yesterday in his own defense--saying that he felt PRESSURED to say he was involved in the murder of Estel Singleton at the Ironto rest area.
Closing arguments are expected to begin later this morning.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

The family of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer won its lawsuit against tobacco giant Philip Morris-- in the largest tobacco settlement ever.
An Oregon Jury awarded the family 81- million dollars.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And last night, the Lynchburg school board voted to bring back a holiday honoring Doctor Martin Luther King, after a two year absence from the school calendar.
School officials hope students will use that time to learn more about the slain civil rights leader.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Wedneday, March 31st.
[ANCHOR=Steve]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[E-Pritchett]

Police and defense attornies have a different versions of what happened at the Ironto rest stop.
Both sides had their say yesterday in a Montgomery County courtroom.
Teresa Hamilton has more on Bud Pritchett's capital murder case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=No, i didn't do it]
[SUPER=01-Bud Pritchett/Defendant; :00]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :18]
[SUPER=03-Ironto/April 30, 1997; :25]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Humphreys/State Police; :30]
[SUPER=@Teresa1; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Christiansburg.]
((((BUD PRITCHETT/ACCUSED MURDERER:NO, I DIDN'T DO IT, I DON'T KILL PEOPLE, I DIDN'T DO IT.))
[RUNS 05]
Bud Pritchett did admit to trying to use Estel Singleton's ATM card to get money, but says he found the card in the parking lot of a local grocery store NOT on the victim's body.
But a state police agent tells a different story.
Jerry Humphreys says Pritchett admitted shooting Singleton just days after the victim's body was found at the Ironto rest area.
((JERRY HUMPHREYS/VA STATE POLICE:HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING AT FIRST AND THEN HE SAID WITH ANGER IN HIS VOICE HE WAS A FAGGOT , HE CAME INTO THE BATHROOM, PULLED A GUN AND CALLED ME A NIGGER, I RAN, WE STRUGGLED, THE GUN WENT OFF AND THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.))
[RUNS 15]
The alleged statement was made after state police brought Pritchett in for questioning after a video camera captured Prithcett trying to use the victim's ATM card.
In court, Pritchett denied making the statement.
He says the only reason he indicated he was involved was because he felt pressured after hours of questioning.
((BUD PRITCHETT/ACCUSED MURDERER:AT FIRST I TOLD HIM NO AND THEN HE KEPT REPEATING IT, THEN I SAID, OK, WHATEVER.))
[RUNS 10]
[TAKE SU]
The defense also tried to bolster its case by presenting character witnesses who testified Pritchett has a reputation in the community as trustworthy despite two previous felony convictions.
Closing arguments are set for later this morning.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Christiansburg.))

[S-Melton-Trial]

A Southside man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing the mother of three children.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax/Monday]

A Halifax County judge convicted Denny Melton of first degree murder in the death of Rhonda Stone.
The verdict came at the end of a two-day trial.
Stone was shot to death through the kitchen window of her trailer last August.
(------------)

[Tobacco-Suit]

It's the largest settlement ever against a tobacco company.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Portland, OR;]

Yesterday, an Oregon jury awarded 81- million dollars to the family of Jesse Williams in their lawsuit against Philip Morris.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:18:22]
[IN Q=If you look]
((IF YOU LOOK AT THIS VERDICT, IT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE AND WE FIRMLY BELIEVE WAS THE RESULT OF PASSION, PREJUDICE, AND OSME MISAPPROPRIATION OF OREGON LAW.))
[SOT 4:18:49]
((THE STATISTICS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM LUNG CANCER EVERY YEAR ARE TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.))
[SUPER=01-Walter Cofer/Philip Morris Attorney;]
[SUPER=01-Mayola Williams/Smoker's Widow;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=what's going on]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday's verdict marks the second major decision against Philip Morris this year.
A San Francisco jury awarded 51-point-five- million dollars last month to a Marlboro smoker who has inoperable lung cancer.
(------------)

[2-Kosovo]

There are reports of missile and bomb explosions this morning in the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade.
But there's no EVIDENCE that's happening yet.
Meanwhile, an estimated 118- thousand ethnic Albanians have fled Kosovo since air strikes began last week.
Here's Bobbi Harley with an update on the situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=More planes are taking]
[SUPER=03-Aviano, Italy;]
[SUPER=01-Kenneth Bacon/Pentagon Spokesman;]
[SUPER=01-Bobbi Harley/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=Harley, CBS News, WAshington]
((((LOCATOR: AVIANO, ITALY))
((NAT SOT))
((track))
MORE PLANES ARE TAKING OFF FROM AVIANO, ITALY TODAY.. AS NATO REPORTEDLY GETS READY TO EXPAND ITS AIRSTRIKES.
TARGETS MIGHT INCLUDE SITES RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF BELGRADE.
THE MOVE COMES AFTER PENTAGON OFFICIALS ADMITTED TO HAVING ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS WITH THE BOMBINGS SO FAR:
((SOT: KENNETH BACON/PENTAGON SPOKESMAN))
"There has not been a knockout punch. We knew that a knockout punch would not come quickly."
((track))
NOW U-S OFFICIALS ARE COVERING THEIR BASES AT HOME.
EARLY THIS MORNING IN WASHINGTON, THEY TOOK OVER THE YUGOSLAV EMBASSY.
THIS, AS NEW HOPES FOR PEACE QUICKLY VANISHED YESTERDAY-- AFTER RUSSIA'S PRIME MINISTER FAILED TO BROKER A DEAL.

PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SAID HE WOULD RESUME TALKS ONLY IF NATO HALTED AIR STRIKES.
PRESIDENT CLINTON BALKED AT THE IDEA-- AND HE URGED NATO TO FORGE AHEAD WITH THE MISSION:
((SOT: PRESIDENT CLINTON AT LAST NIGHT'S DINNER))
"We must not allow--if we have the ability to stop it--ethnic cleansing or genocide any where we can stop it--particularly at the edge of Europe."
((track))
MEANWHILE, AID IS ON THE WAY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS FLEEING A BLOOD-THIRSTY SERBIAN ARMY.
GOVERNMENTS AND RELIEF AGENCIES ARE RESPONDING TO THESE HEART-WRENCHING IMAGES OF TIRED.. HUNGRY.. SCARED REFUGEES... TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
FOOD, MEDICINE, AND OTHER SUPPLIES ARE HEADED FOR ALBANIA.. WHERE MOST OF THE REFUGEES HAVE FLED.
THE U-S HAS ALSO DONATED EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN AID.
((STANDUP))
Talks about Albania's offer to help funnel arms to the Kosovo liberation army.))

[2-Big-Game]

There's 140- MILLION- dollars still up for grabs if you know how to pick your numbers.
Nobody was lucky enough to do that in last night's multi- state Big Game lottery drawing that was worth 103 million dollars.
But players will have another shot at it in Friday's drawing.

It was supposed to be the Modern Day Adonis versus the Ancient Sun God.
(-------------------)
[vo-nat]
[super=03-Williamsburg]

But yesterday's promotional event for a new ride at Busch Gardens went wrong, and pitted supermodel Fabio against a bird.
Fabio was riding on the new roller coaster dubbed Apollo's Chariot when a bird hit him in the face.
He suffered a one-inch-cut on the bridge of his nose.
(-------------)

[E-MLK-Day]

After a two- year absence, a holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King is back on the Lynchburg school calendar for next year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The school board last night voted to include January 17th, 2000 as a school holiday.
The move comes following pressure from a minority citizens group that wanted to honor Dr. King by giving both city employees and school students the day off.
School officials hope students will use that time to learn more about the slain civil rights leader.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:09:12]
[IN Q=This is important]
((MARIE HARRIS/LYNCHBURG SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I SUPPORT MAKING THIS A HOLIDAY AND GIVING THE CITY AND INTERESTED CITIZENS AND GROUPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ORGANIZE EVENTS THAT WILL ATTRACT THE STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Marie Harris/Lynchburg School Board Member; :00]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=of the community.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Last week, city council okayed a King holiday for Lynchburg employees.
(------------)

[E-L'burg-Council]

If you happen to win Firday's Powerball drawing,, some folks in Lynchburg might want to talk to you.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Fundraising is underway to overhaul 60- year- old City Stadium.. Lynchburg's minor league ballpark.
Donors can buy a sponsor brick for 100 dollars that will have their name engraved on it.
But organizers are also looking for a BIG-money sponsor who'd like to see their name in lights.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:20:58]
[IN Q=The real goal]
((CHRIS ELLIS/SPORTS CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA: THE REAL GOAL IS TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE THEIR NAME ON THAT FACILITY, CITY STADIUM THAT IS. AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE MARKET IS WILLING TO BEAR AS FAR AS THAT GOES, WHAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SPEND ON IT.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Ellis/Sports Capital of Virginia; :00]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=spend on it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Ellis says the major sponsor might have to put up anywhere from a half million to a million dollars.
They hope to have renovations complete by next spring.
(------------)

As long as you hook one of these prize fish, worth between 25 and one million dollars each.
A non-profit organization is tagging more than one thousand bass and crappies.
The million-dollar-fish will be released at the end of April.
For ten bucks you can register at any of several lakeside stores.
The contest starts April 10th and runs through June.
You must use specific brands of fishing gear or you forfeit half the winnings.
(------------)

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Closing statements are expected this morning in the capital murder trial of Bud Pritchett.
Pritchett testified yesterday, refuting the claim by state police that he confessed to murdering Estel Singleton.

He did admit to trying to use Singleton's ATM card to get money, but says he found the card in the parking lot of a local grocery store NOT on the victim's body.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Denny Melton will spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing the mother of three children.
A Halifax County judge convicted Melton of first degree murder in the death of Rhonda Stone.
Stone was shot to death through the kitchen window of her trailer last August.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Retired general Colin Powell was in Blacksburg last night, speaking about leadership and volunteerism.
Powell also commented on the situation in Yugoslavia-- calling the Serbian president a villian, and saying the bombing must continue.
He also said he will NOT run for president in 2000
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(Steve mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Steve ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Two-Shot=Kimberly and Steve]
(ad lib bye)
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)